Today my fiancé and I celebrated our 4th year together! We spent the whole day together doing something we both enjoy… Antiquing! There is nothing better to do on a beautiful day then walk downtown Bloomington visiting antique stores, vintage boutiques, thrift stores, one after another. Furniture and accessories are key pieces to Interior Design so I obviously love to indulge in antiquing, I was lucky enough to find a partner that loves history, in fact he just graduated with a bachelors degree in history, so I think he might even enjoy it more. We had a blast and bought a couple furniture pieces that really tied our apartment together!
Making a house, or a apartment, a home takes years of collecting and I have only begun gathering pieces that match my design style. I have a very eclectic aesthetic, I love the clean and simple lines of modern design yet still appreciate the more organic forms created in more traditional design, while incorporating my love for architecture and adding pops of brilliant color. I really don’t discriminate when it comes to furniture or accessories, I’m never looking for one specific thing, if something speaks to me (and is within my very limited college budget) I go for it and eventually it will find a place somewhere in my apartment! I want to share with you some of my favorite pieces from my apartment, things that really inspire me and illustrate my personal design aesthetic.
This is a new piece, Corey just bought it for me today! I was immediately drawn towards this chair because of the brilliant turquoise paired with a subtle purple, not to mention the price tag!!! You can’t really tell but the chair has a “antique” finish which has hints of purple.
This is a new piece, Corey just bought it for me today! I was immediately drawn towards this chair because of the brilliant turquoise paired with a subtle purple, not to mention the price tag!!! You can’t really tell but the chair has a “antique” finish which has hints of purple.
CHAIR: $9.00 from Antique Bazaar in Bloomington, IN
PILLOW: $12 from The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall
THROW BLANKET: $10 from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
This retro credenza is also a new piece, purchased today in our “anniversary shopping spree.” I immediately fell in love with this piece because I know I will have it for a very long time, finding a place for it in every new house I move into. It’s constructed with solid wood and sturdy enough for even the biggest televisions! With a little TLC and a lot of pledge, it became an instant centerpiece in our living room. I think these two pieces look great up against our brick wall!
RETRO CREDENZA: $49 from The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall
This is our seating area! Where we spend nights watching television and movies, playing games and entertaining friends, and of course spending countless hours on homework! The sofa and coffee table were given to us by Corey’s family. The two pictures hanging above the couch are charcoal drawings done by yours truly! The air is filled with the scent of a Coconut Verbena candle, I absolutely love this space I truly feel at home while away from my family at school.
CANDLE HOLDERS: $6 from Vintage Vogue by GW in Bloomington, IN
These are some of my favorite accessories. I adore the imperfection of the pottery and the nicks in the finish on the candle holders.
POTTERY: $3 from Vintage Vogue by GW in Bloomington, IN
CANDLE HOLDERS: $6 (small), $10 (large) from Big Lots in Columbus, IN
TWO TURQOUISE VOTIVES, FRONT: $10/ea from Sea Wife in Pawleys Island , SC
TWO CLEAR VOTIVES, BACK: $10/ea from Sea Wife in Pawleys Island , SC
TALL BLUE VOTIVE, BACK: $1 from Goodwill in Columbus, IN
SMALL BLUE VOTIVE, SIDE: $6 (set of three) from Big Lots in Columbus, IN
BLUE SERVING PLATTER: Purchased from Goodwill in Columbus, IN
Like I said before, I create my environment around me by finding furniture and accessories that match my taste at various antique stores, vintage boutiques, thrift stores, and the occassional department store! Here are a list of some of my favorite places to shop:
Antique Bazaar is one of my favorite antique malls located in Bloomington, IN. It is made up of booths, each one belonging to a different dealer, so each booth is like it's own little world with it's own aesthetic. You can find anything here for your home from dishes and accessories to furniture and architectural pieces. I have found many pieces of furniture at very reasonable prices!
Antique Bazaar
5101 N State Road 37 Business
Bloomington, IN 47404
Bloomington, IN 47404
(812) 336-5314
The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall is three stories packed full of booths with antiques from all different eras! My favorite booths are located in the basement, and are filled with 1950's-1070's retro furniture, I could have spent a fortune in just these two booths alone!
The Historic Bloomington Antique Mall
311 W. 7th St.
Bloomington IN
(812) 323-7676
Vintage Vogue by GW is my new favorite place to shop! A boutique brand of Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Vintage Vogue offers a unique blend of chic, modern fashions and one-of-a-kind classics. Vintage Vogue merchandise comes from selected Goodwill stores outside of the Bloomington area. These stores isolate a small portion of their upscale and vintage donations to send to Vintage Vogue. I also often shop at regular goodwill stores and always go out of my way when I'm on vacation or in another town to visit their goodwill because you never know what you will find next!!
Vintage Vogue by GW
422 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47408
Sea Wife is a home accessories and gift shop located in the Hammock Shops in the Costal town of Pawleys Island, SC. I has a eclectic, sophisticated collection of accessories and furniture, some hand made by the locals! Unfortunately they are closing soon, but you can keep up with their Facebook page!
Sea Wife
10880 Ocean Hwy. #17
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Be Inspired!
Savanna
Be Inspired!
Savanna
